Chennai: A chopper of the Indian Air Force carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and several top Army officials crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. The fate of the CDS remains uncertain as images of the crashed chopper showed everything charred at the site.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the development. Singh's statement in the Parliament on the crash was also awaited.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the accident, while officials said details were awaited about the fate of those onboard.
The CDS' wife and President of Army Wives Welfare Association Madhulika Rawat; Defence Assistant, security commandos and Indian Air Force personnel were onboard the chopper.
"An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. An Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the cause," IAF said in a statement.
The chopper crashed in the Nilgiris, shortly after it took off from the army base in Sulur in Coimbatore.
Teams of Army and Police have been rushed to the spot. Details were awaited.
Reports said the helicopter crashed in the Kaatteri hilly area. It exploded soon after it took off from Sulur Air Base.
Sources said four bodies, which were charred beyond recognition, were recovered from the spot.
As per a record of the people on board were Gen Rawat, Madhulika Rawat (wife of CDS), Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kumar, L/NK Vivek Kumar, L/NK B Sai Teja, Havildar Satpal among others.
Three officers, who sustained serious injuries and burns, were shifted to a hospital.
The helicopter crashed in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu was heading to Wellingdon from Sulur.
Defence sources said 14 people were in the helicopter when it exploded. So far four bodies recovered were charred beyond recognition and awaiting identification.
Three officers, who sustained serious injuries and burns, were shifted to a hospital, and their condition was stated to be critical.
The fate of the remaining seven people, including Gen Rawat and his wife was being ascertained.
Rescue and relief operations were underway at the crash spot. (UNI)